Itikaf City of Minhaj-ul-Quran International

The Itikaf is the annual ten day seclusion which takes place in the last ten
days of the Holy Month of Ramadhan. This practice is optional for Muslims and can
be performed alone or collectively. It is an advance form of self purification and
spiritual uplift which takes the performer into a domain which is not in the scope
of fasting which is a lower form of this spiritual venture.

Collective Itikaf is performed all over the world with the most famous venues
being the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid Nabavi in Madinah. The collective
Itikaf is the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) and holds higher reward and benefit. The
collective Itikaf performed by the Holy Prophet SAW in Masjid Nabavi with the Sahabah
was a unique spiritual training camp which consisted of the Holy prophet (SAW) lecturing,
teaching and practically training the Sahabah with special regards to gaining a
high spiritual status.

Services During Itikaf

The Collective Itikafs present in the world today, are only considered to be
collective due to the large numbers of people performing the practice at one venue.
They do not possess the attributes of the collective Itikaf which was performed
by the Holy Prophet (SAW). The annual collective Itikaf organised by Minhaj-ul-Quran
International in Lahore is based upon the collective Itikaf model of the time of
Holy prophet (SAW). The ten day Itikaf is organised as a spiritual training camp
with the main features of the Itikaf being the lectures and sittings of Shaykh-ul-Islam
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. Together with the practical methods of advancing
ones spiritual status through various sequences of the remembrance of Allah which
those in the Itikaf adhere to under the guidance of Shaykh-ul-Islam.

Thousands of men and women take part in the MQI collective Itikaf every year
who travel from the lengths and breadths of Pakistan with scores making a special
journey from around the globe. Having the opportunity to perform the collective
Itikaf in the company and spiritual guidance of one of the greatest Sufis and Shaykhs
alive is a privilege which attracts drove upon drove of worshippers. The collective
Itikaf is used by MQI as a training camp to spiritually charge individuals to prepare
them to carry out the Islamic propagational work of MQI.